Spinning top



E. S. SAVAGE SPINNING TOP Aug. 18, 1936.

Filed April 24, 1936 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICEApplication April 24, r1936, Serial No. 76,209

23 Claims.

This invention relates to spinning tops, and more particularly to a topof th-at class in which the top is composed of more than one member andin which one or more of the members is given motion relative to anothermember while the top is spinning.

An object of my invention is to provide a top of the above mentionedclass in which a movable member is given comparatively slow motion re1-ative to the spinning member, by simple and inexpensive means, thusdispensing with the more complex and expensive speed reduction meansheretofore used to accomplish similar results.

Another object of my invention is to provide a top having simple andnovel means for exhibiting and automatically causing periodic changesand variations of color eiects.

A further object of the invention is to provide a top which will producevariable and intermittent sounds while spinning.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvementsand combination of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. Y

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with a portion shown in central section of atop constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 shows the top in side elevation from a position at right anglesto that of Fig. 1, with a portion of the sphere broken away and shown incentral section and the lower part shown in section on the line 2 2,Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View, in side elevation, of a modiiication of the inventionand is shown partly in central section.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, of the same mcdication shown in Fig.3 taken from a position at right angles to that of Fig. 3. This view isshown partly in section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 isa sectional view in elevation showing a modiiication of thesounding means.

Fig. 6 shows the lower portion of a top provided with a modified form oftracking roller with geared driving connection to the rotatable member.This view corresponds to that of Fig. 3, and other portions of the topnot here shown are identical to those shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The same reference numer-als throughout the several views indicate thesame parts. The surface, of whatever nature, on which the top spins,will be designated in the specications and appended claims as the groundand this designation is intended to include not only rigid surfaces buta movable surface such as an auxiliary surface which may be pivotallyassociated with the spinning member of the top.

Referring rst to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide aspinning member I, preferably formedof sheet metal, which approximatesan inverted cone in shape, with its apex 2a serving -as thev spinningpoint or peg, here shown in contact with the ground G. The rim 3 of thespinning member I isvcurled about the solid metal ring 4a. whichgives'added weight to the periphery. A circular ring shaped member 5,formed of fiat wire, is rigidly attached to the spinning member I at thepoints 6, preferably by spot welding, and is positioned with itsgeometrical center in line with the lspinning axis of the top, whichspinning axis is indicated by the broken lines S S in the several views.The ring 5 carries two bearing pins 1, projecting inwardly through holespierced in the ring, and

located axially in line with a horizontal diametrical line through thecenter of the ring 5. A hollow sphere 8 is journalled to rotate on thebearing pins 1. A cone shaped tracking roller 9, preferably made ofrubber, is carried by and turns with its axial metal spindle I0, whichisjournalled to turn freely in bearings I I and I2 formed on the bodymember I, the axis of rotation being here shown positioned in angularrelation to the spinning axis of the top. The upper bearing I2, which isformed in the bracket I3, is slotted as shown, permitting the roller 9and its spindle IIJ to have limited angular play in a vertical plane, asthe spindle pivots slightly about its lower bearing II. The cone shapedrubber roller 9 is extended at its apex to form a comparatively smallround resilient nger I4, the center line of which is normally in linewith the center line of the spindle II). Fig. 1 of the drawing showsthis finger I4 in a bent or flexed position and bearing against thesphere 8. The lower edge of the roller member 9 extends downwardlythrough a suitable opening I5, in the sheet metal spinning member I, theroller making contact with the ground at the point I6. This groundcontact point is preferably located close to but laterally offset withrespect to the spinning axis VS S.

When the top is spinning, the roller 9 will be caused to rotate withrespect to the spinning member I, because of its ground contact and theresultant rotation of the nger I4, while pressl ing against the sphere8, will cause the sphere 8 to rotate on the bearing pins l, at a slowrate of speed as compared with the speed of rotation of the spinningmember I about the spinning axis.

The surface of the sphere 8 is colored in various designs, preferably ofcontrasting colors, to give interesting changing color effects while thetop is spinning. I prefer to use the color design here illustratedwherein the three primary colors, blue, red and yellow are employed. Thesurface of the sphere is divided into six equal lunes Il, the boundarycircles of which intersect at common points located in the horizontalaxis of rotation of the sphere. These lunes are colored successively,blue, red and yellow, so that diametrically opposite lunes will be oflike color. A black circular area I8 surrounds each bearing center, itsdiameter being approximately one third the diameter of the sphere. Thepurpose of the black areas is to prevent mixing of other colors in thecenter color band, as the moment when any pair of like colored lunesoccupy the horizontal, or equitorial position, which is the position inwhichthe red lunes are shown in the drawing.

The vhollow sphere 8 is here shown formed of sheet metal. A at circularchamber i9 also formed of sheet metal, is centrally located within thesphere and is supported by the flat tubular extensions 2.0, which are:fitted into two diametrically oppositeopenings 2| in the sphere wall.These tubular extensions form air ducts, permitting air to enter thechamber i9 when in the position shown in the drawing. Musical reeds 22,similar to harmonica reeds, and preferably of diiering pitch, are spacedequally about one wall ofthe chamber I9 and riveted thereto.Corresponding slots 23, in the Wall opposite each reed, permit passageof air around the reeds from the chamber i9 into the sphere 8.Perforations 24 in the sphere wall are located preferably near the axisof rotation of the sphere.

When the top is spinning rapidly the air within the sphere spins with itand the centrifugal force of this rapidly rotating air 4body creates anair pressure Within the sphere and directed outwardly from the spinningaxis. This air pressure increases at increasing distances from thespinning axis, being slightly less than atmospheric pressure at thespinning axisl, and greatest at the greatest distance from the spinningaxis. As the top spins the sphere is rotated about its horizontal axisat a comparatively slow rate of speed by the means already described. Atthe moment the sphere assumes the position shown in the drawing, airwill escape through the perforations v2l! and the partial Vacuum thuscreated within the sphere will cause a circulation of air, entering theopenings 2l and passing inwardly through the air ducts 20 into thechamber I9, out of the chamber through the slots 23 into the sphere, andout of the sphere through the perforations 24. The air, in passingthrough the slots 23 will cause the reeds 22 to vibrate, thus producingmusical tones. Air will continue to circulate in this manner until, asthe sphere 8 rotates about its horizontal axis, the air circulation willgradually decrease as the openings 2! approach a near horizontal'position, in which position the air circulation will cease, due to thefact that the centrifugal force of the air outwardly at the `openings 2lequals and balances the centrifugal force of the air at the perforations2d, both being equally distant from the spinning axis. As thegspherecontinues to rotate and the distance of the openings 2l from thespinning axis diminishes, air will begin to circulate as before andsound Will again be produced and will gradually increase in loudnessuntil the openings 2| again occupy the Vertical positions shown in thedrawing, when the sound will then reach a maximum.

It is apparent that the effect of this construction is to cause the topwhile spinning to emit sounds or musical tones periodically, the soundrising and falling, from zero to a. maximum and down again, twice foreach revolution of the sphere about its horizontal axis. It is alsoobvious that, instead of the harmonica type of sounding means hereshown, any other suitable type of air actuated sounding means may beemployed, as for instance the common toy horn type of sounding reed, ora whistle type sounder which requires no reed.

It is also pointed out that the air actuated sounder need notnecessarily be located close to the center of the sphere but may belocated at any convenient place in the air circulation system where theair stream is sufficiently concentrated to actuate the sounder. Aposition near the center of the sphere is advantageous, when a reed isemployed as the sounding means, because there the centrifugal force is aminimum at all times andthe vibration of the reed will not be affectedby stresses due to centrifugal force of the reed itself. Thisconstruction is also desirable for cheapness of manufacture andassembling of parts when a plurality of sounding reeds are employed.

While the construction and location of the sounding means described inthe foregoing has the advantages pointed out, the invention is notlimited to that construction. Both the chamber i9 and air ducts 28 maybe dispensed With if desired and still retain the periodic soundingfeature of the invention. Eliminating these members, but retaining theopenings 2l and perforations 24, it is obvious that, when the top isspinning, there will be air circulation passing out of the spherethrough the perforations 24 and into the sphere through the openings 2l,and this air circulation will increase and diminish in the mannerdescribed in the foregoing. If then an air actuated sounder of anysuitable. type is placed, preferably inside the sphere, adjacent toeither orice and so positioned that air passing thro-ugh the orificemust pass through the sounder, periodic sounds will be produced as thetop spins. An example of such construction is illustrated in Fig. 5,which is a sectional View of a sounder located close to the opening 2l',which fopening in this case is a round hole adapted to t snugly theouter end of the tube 54. The sounder here shown is the common toy horntype and istted tightly within the tube 58. In this position the reed 56will be caused to vibrate and sound will be produced when the aircurrent passes inwardly through it from outside and into the sphere.Likewise the same sounder could be placed opposite a perforation 2G inwhich position the bird bill member 55 would be reversed in reference tothe sphere wall, so that it would be in proper position to be actuatedby air passing through it outwardly.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, any suitable form of spinning meansmay be provided for ini tially rotating the spinning member l. Forexample, the spinning means may be carried by and extend upwardly fromthe upper portion of the ring 5, and may comprise a centrally locatedpin 25 riveted to and extending upwardly from the ring 5. A spool shapedwooden handle 26 is mounted to turn freely on the pin 25 and a coiledspring 21 fits freely in a center hole in the handle 26, its upper endvbeing fastened against turning within the spool at 28. The 10W- er endof the coiled spring 21 is bent to forma hook 29 which is adapted tocatch into a hole 39 in the sheet metal plate 3i. This plate 3l iscircular in contour and is perforated at the center to t over the pin 25and itsl periphery is flanged downwardly to provide a support by meansof which it is'rigidly attached to the ring 5 in` any suitable manner.The plate 3| is also provided with a depression 32 positio-ned toreceive the lower end of a catch pin 33. This depression 32 is formedwith a beveled bottom to function as a ratchet notch while the pin 33functions as a pawl. When the pin 33 enters the depression 32 itprevents rotation of the handle 26 about the pin 25 in one direction butwill ride out and permit rotation of the handle in the oppositedirection. This ratchet action is designed to permit rotation of thehandle in the direction which will cause the hook 29 to catch in thehole 3B. rIhe catch pin 33 is guided for vertical movement in a hole inthe handle 23, and is provided with a head 34 which serves to limit itsdownward movement, the pin being normally held down by the spring 35,which bears against the head 34.

To spin the top, the body portion, preferably the spinning member l, isgrasped by one hand and the spinner handle 26 is rotated by the otherhand in the direction permitted by the ratchet catch, the hook 29catching in the hole 33 prevents rotation o-f the lower end of thespring 21, resulting in winding the spring about the pin 25 until thewinding limit of the spring has been reached. The spinner handle is thenslowly released permitting the pin 33 to enter and catch in thedepression 32. The spinner handle 23 is then move-d upward cn the pin25, by holding the thumb against the head 25a of the pin 25 and pullingthe handle 26 upward, which may be done conveniently by two otherfingers of the same hand. This upward movement of the handle 2G retractsthe lower end of the pin 33 from the depression 32, thus permitting thespring 21 to quickly unwind and in so doing, rapidly rotate the top bymeans of the hook. which is caught in the hole 39. When the spring iscompletely unwound the hook 29 automatically releases its hold from thehole 39 and the topwill continue to spin by its momentum. As here shownthe spinner handle 23 is retained on the pin 25 by the head 25a. Ifdesired the pin 25 may be made headless, in which case the handle 25 maybe removed from the pin as soon as the top starts to spin.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification of my invention, some parts of whichare identical in form to those shown in Figs. l and 2. Such parts aredesignated by the saine reference numerals as employed in Figs. 1 and 2.In the form of the invention described above, rotation of the sphere 8is dependent on frictional contact between the elastic finger I4 and thesurface of the sphere 8. The driving force so obtained is suicient,Where there is very little resistance to rotation or" the sphere 8,which condition applies tol the form of the invention there illustrated.`In the modication of the invention here illustrated, Figs. 3 and 4, theresistance to be overcome in rotating the sphere 8' is great enough torender a more positive driving means desirable. This object is attainedby substituting for the finger I4, a toothed pinion 36 which meshes witha series rof indentations 31 formed in the surface of the sphere 8',which indentations are evenly spaced in a circle about the spheresurface so as to form in effect a large gear carried by and rotatingwith the sphere. The pinion 36 may be mounted rigidly in respect to thespindle l0, or it may be mounted to have resilient connection to thespindle. The latter construction is that indicated lin the drawing. Theamount of this resiliency may be very slight, or it may be considerable,depending on the nature of the material used to connect the pinion 35 tothe spindle Ill. This construction permits the pinion 36 to yieldslightly to adapt itself to any slight variations of the sphere surface,at the same time retaining the positive drive characteristic.

To insure constant traction of the rubber tracking roller 9 against theground, the roller 9 is so positioned by the spindle bearings Il land l2that, in its uppermost position, the lower edge of the roller willnormally projecta triiie below the point 2a of the spinning member l.There is therefore, when the top is spinning, a slight flexing of theroller tread at the ground contact point l, which exingk acts to insurecontinuous driving contact of the roller 9 against the ground.

The modification of my invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4' isprovided with means for producing musical tones in a mechanical mannerwhile the top is spinning and Without the use of an air current. Itsaction depends on the use of a musical reed, or series of reeds, whichare intermittently flexed from a normally straight position and suddenlyreleased. The sudden release of the reed causes it to vibrate for amofnent and produce its characteristic tone. The sphere 8 is adapted torotate on the horizontal shaft 38, the shaft ends being entered andriveted in holes in the ring 5 at 39.` The shaft 33 is stamped near itscenter at 49, to form two oppositely positioned fins or keys, whichserve to retain the picker plate 4i against rotation on theV shaft. Asheet metal disc 42 formsa central partition within the sphere 8 and isfixed thereto so that it rotates with the sphere inY a plane at'rightangles to the shaft 38. reeds 43 are riveted at 44 to the disc 42 andare located in a circle equidistant from the horizontal axis or rotationof the sphere, and in evenly spaced relationship to each other, with thefree ends of the reeds po-inting toward the shaft 33,

said free ends being spaced slightly away from the face of the disc 42.The disc 42 is pierced by elongated slots 45, positioned under each reedand slightly wider than the reeds. These slots permit free vibration ofthe reeds without iml:

pinging against the disc 42. The picker plate 4i carriesr two inclinedpicker wings 45, each extendi'ngin like circular arcs but in oppositedirections, from the leading edges 41, and sloping outwardly from theface of the disc 42. The

picker plate 4l is also provided with a hub 48r which is perforated atits center tofit loosely, but engaging with, the keyed portion 40 of theshaft 38. A coiled spring 49 encircles the shaft 33 and is adapted toexert a slight pressure at one end against the hub 48, to insureconstant contact of the leading edges 41 of the picker plate 4l, againstthe disc 42. The opposite end of the spring 49 bears against the collar5l) which is xed to the shaft 38. I

The musical .about its vertical axis.

When the sphere 8', with its disc 42, is rotated on the shaft 38 thefree ends of the reeds 43 pass successively over one of the leadingedges lil. and under the other, or vice versa, depending on thedirection of rotation of the disc 42. As the reed passes over a pickerwing the wing acts as a wedge to cause the reed tobe flexed outwardlyfrom the face of the disc 42, until the flexed reed leaves the tip ofthe picker wing, when it is suddenly released and snaps toward itsnormal position. The resulting momentary vibration of the reed willproduce the desired musical tone. To produce the most pleasing sounds itis desirable that each reed have a distinctive tone diiering from all ofthe others. When the top is spinning the sounds produced will partlycarry through the perforations 24 in the sphere, and partly through thewall of the sphere.

The coloring of the sphere 8 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2,described in the foregoing, and the same change color effects will beproduced when the top is spinning.

The modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is designed to be initiallyrotated by means of a string. The spinning means consists of the pin 25,the spool 5l and the handle 53. The pin 25 is riveted to, and extendsupwardly from, the top of the ring 5. 'Ihe wood spool 5l is drilledaxially to t tightly on the pin 25 and is fastened against turning bythe slot 52 which extends across its lower face and ts over the top ofthe ring 5. The turned wood handle 53 is drilled to t loosely on the pin25 above the fixed spool 5i. The head 51 of the pin 25 prevents removalof the handle 53.

To spin the top, a string is 'lrst wound about the spool 5l, the handle51 is then grasped by one hand and, while the top is held in a verticalposition, the string is pulled away by the other hand causing the top torotate rapidly The handle then being released, the top continues to spinby its momentum.

Obviously the two forms of spinning means illustrated in the drawingcould be interchanged in respect to the two forms of the inventionillustrated, or any other convenient form of spinning might be employed.

In th-e modified form of roller drive means shown in Fig. 6, thespinning member I carries the U shaped bearing men'lber 58 rigidlyattached thereto. Perforations in the vertical sides of the bearingmember serve as bearings for the two spindles 59 and 60. The trackingroller 6l and the pinion 52 are fixed on the spindle 55 and the gear 63is fixed on the spindle 65. The gear 63 meshes with the pinion 52 andalso with the gear 31 which is formed on the sphere surface, as shown inFigs. 3 and 4. The bearing 64, for the spindle 59, is elongatedvertically to permit slight angular movement of the spindle in aVertical plane, about its other bearing 65, the t in the bearing 65being loose enough to permit such angular movement. This angularmovement of the spindle 59 permits the tracking roller 5| to have alimited vertical movement. A ilat spring 65 is riveted at one end to thespinning member l at 6l and its free end is positioned to exert a slightdownward pressure against the projecting portion of the spindle 59 at apoint adjacent to the tracking roller 6l, thereby causing constantdownward pressure of the roller 6I against the ground. When a spring isemployed to cause downward pressure of the tracking roller against theground, as in the construction just described, it is possible to use atracking roller formed of an inelastic material such as wood or metal.The spring 66 may be dispensed with in the type of drive hereillustrated, if the tracking roller 6| is made of an elastic materialsuch as rubber, the resiliency of therubber being depended on tomaintain ground contact. In this case the bearing 64 should not beslotted since vertical motion of the roller 6I is not desired.

In operation, while the top is spinning, the resultant motion of thesphere 8' obtained by the use of the drive means shown in Fig. 6 issimilar to that obtained by the drive means shown in Figs. 3 and 4.Rotation of the spinning member l about its spinning axis causes theroller 6l to rotate by reason or" its ground contact and the spindle 59and pinion S2 will thereby be caused to rotate. The intermediate gear 53transmits the rotary motion of the pinion 62 to the gear 3l of thesphere 8 and causes it to rotate in relation to the spinning member l ata speed slower than that of the spinning member.

The drive means shown in the several gures of the drawing are designedto cause the rotary member, in the drawing the sphere 8 or 8', to rotateon its axis at a slower rate than the spinning member rotates about theyspinning axis. This invention is not however limited to such comparativespeeds of these respective members. In some adaptations of the inventionit may be desirable to have the movable member actuated at a speed asfast or faster than that of the spinning member. Such results can beobtained by obvious changes in the proportions and arrangement ofessential parts.

It will be understood that the details of construction herein shown anddescribed may be varied in many respects without departing from myinvention, the scope of which is indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a second member mounted onand spinning bodily with said spinning member and also movablerelatively thereto, rotary means carried by the said spinning member andoperatively connected to said second member, said rotary means beingadapted for ground contact at a point laterally oiset with respect tosaid spinning axis, so that during the spinning of said spinning membersaid rotary means will be roi tated by its ground contact and itsrotation will move said second member relatively to said spinningmember.

2. A top according to claim l in which said second member is rotatablymounted on said spinning member.

3. A top according to claim 1 in which said second member is rotatablymounted on said spinning member for rotation about a substantiallyhorizontal axis.

4. A top according to claim 1 in which said second member is rotatablymounted on said spinning member and carries a plurality of differentlycolored areas.

5. A top according to claim 1 in which said second member comprises asphere mounted on saidv spinning member for rotation about asubstantially horizontal axis.

6. A top according to claim 1 in which resilient means is provided tocause pressure of the rotary means against the ground at the point ofcontact.

'7. A top according to claim 1 in which at least a portion of the rotarymeans is composed of an elastic material and adapted to insurecontinuous driving force between the ground contact point and the secondmember.

8. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a second member mounted onand spinning bodily with said spinning member and also movablerelatively thereto, and rotary means journalled on said spinning memberand comprising aY roller portion of one diameter and a driver portion ofsmaller diameter, the said roller portion being adapted to make groundcontact at a point laterally offset with respect to the said spinningaxis, and said driver portion being adapted to make driving contact withthe said second member so that, during the spinning of said spinningmember said rotary means will be rotated by the contact of its rollerportion with the gro-und and the resultant rotation of its driverportion will move said second member relatively to said spinning member.

9. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a second member rotatablymounted on and spinning bodily with said spinning member, and rotarymeans journalled on said spinning member and having its axis of rotationpositioned in angular relation to the said spinning axis and comprisinga roller portion of one diameter and a driver portion of smallerdiameter, said roller portion being approximatelyconical in form withits outer edge adapted to make ground contact at a point laterally oisetwith respect to said spinning axis and said driver portion being adaptedto make driving contact with the said second member so that.

during the spinning of the said spinning member said rotary means willbe rotated by the ground contact of its roller portion and the resultantrotation of its driver portion will cause said second member to rotaterelatively to said spinning member.

10. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a second member rotatablymounted on and spinning bodily with said spinning member, and rotarymeans journalled on said spinning member comprising a roller portionadapted for ground contact at a point laterally offset with respect tosaid spinning axis and a driver portion adapted for frictional drivingconvnection to said second member, so that during the spinning of saidspinning member said rotary means will be rotated by the contact of itsroller portion with the ground and the resultant rotation of its driverportion will cause said second member to rotate relatively to saidspinning member.

11. A spinning topcomprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a second member rotatablymounted `on and spinning bodily with said spinning member, and rotarymeans journalled on said spinning member comprising a roller portionadapted for ground contact at a point laterally oiset with respect tosaid spinning axis and a driver portion adapted for positive drivingconnection to said second member, so that during the spinning of. saidspinning member` said rotary means will be rotated by the contact of itsroller portion with the ground and the resultant rotation of its driverportion will cause )said second member 't rotate relatively to saidspinning member.

12. A spinning top comprising a. spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a second member mounted onand spinning bodily with said spinning member, said second member beingprovided with circular gear means iixed thereto and adapted to rotatetherewith, and rotary means journalled on said spinning membercomprising a roller portion adapted for ground contact at a pointlaterally offset with respect to the spinning axis and a toothed driverportion meshing with the said circular gear means, so thatduring thespinning of said spinning member said rotary meanswill be rotated by thecontact of its roller portion with the ground and the resultant rotationof its toothed driver portion will rotate said circular gear means andthereby cause said second member to rotate relatively to said spinningmember.

13. A spinning top comprising a-spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a second member rotatablymounted on and spinning bodily with said spinning member, said secondmember being provided With circular gear means fixed thereto and adaptedto rotate therewith, a roller journalled on said spinning member andadapted for ground contact at a point laterally offset with respect tothe spinning axis, and geared connection between said roller and saidcircular gear means, so that during the spinning of said spinning membersaid roller Will be rotated by its contact with the ground and saidsecond member will be caused to rotate relatively to said spinningmember.

14. A topaccording to claim 12 in which the second member comprises asphere mounted for rotation, on said spinning member, about asubstantially horizontal axis.

15. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, means carried by saidspinning member for spinning said member, a sphere mounted on thespinning member for rotation relatively thereto about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, and drive means mounted on said spinning member forrotating said sphere about said horizontal axis.

16. A top according to claim 15 in which the surface of the spherecarries a plurality of differently colored areas.

17. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, means carried by thespinning member for spinning said member, a sphere mounted on thespinning member for rotation relatively thereto about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, ground contacting means associated with the spinningmember and operatively connected to said sphere so that the sphere willbe rotated about its horizontal axis while the top is spinning.

18. A top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotation about asubstantially vertical spinning axis said spinning member including asuperstructure, a sphere rotatably mounted on bearings carried by thesuperstructure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis,vertically disposed spinning means carried by the said superstructureand positioned above the sphere axially in line With the spinning axis,and means associated with said spinning member for rotating said sphereabout said horizontal axis at a rate slower than that of the rotation ofsaid spinning member about said spinning axis.

19. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, means carried by thespinning member for spinning said member, a. hollow sphere mounted onthe spinning member and adapted for rotation relatively thereto about asubstantially horizontal axis, sounding means carried by the sphere forproducing sounds at periodic vintervals controlled by the rotation ofsaid sphere While the top is spinning, and drive means associated withsaid spinning member for rotating said sphereabout said horizontal axisat a rate slower than that of the rotation of said spinning member aboutsaid spinning axis.

20. A top according to claim 19 in which the surface of the spherecarries a plurality of diierently Colored areas.

21. A top according to claim 19 in which the sounding means comprises areed supported Within the sphere and means for flexing and suddenlyreleasing said reed to cause vibration thereof.

22. A spinning top comprising a spinning member mounted for rotationabout a substantially vertical spinning axis, a hollow sphere mounted onthe spinning member and adapted for rotation relatively thereto about asubstantially horizontally axis, said sphere having apertures in theWall thereof so positioned in relation to each other and to the axis ofrotation that the centrifugal force

